There is some evidence to suggest that the current popular trend toward eradication of gut parasites (helminthes) may actually be detrimental to the immune system...
Here are some quotes from recent articles (see links) to consider:
From: "The Potential Health Benefits of Parasitic Gut Worms"
"...The researchers hold that humans co-evolved with a host of bacteria, viruses and parasites, and actually rely on exposure to these organisms to properly regulate our immune systems..."
"...Immune response is calibrated to the presence of worms. In their absence, you get a different response..."
"...worm eradication is often followed by autoimmune disease spikes..."
"...Parasites, especially those worms known collectively as helminths, provoke a variety of anti-inflammatory responses, allowing them to stay in our bodies. In the absence of exposure, which from an evolutionary perspective is a recent, radical aberration, immune systems can behave strangely. They overreact to what should be harmless stimuli, from dust and pollen to beneficial bacteria living in our stomachs..."
"...Helminths awake the regulatory side of the immune system. This helps turn off immune responses that aren't needed..." said cell biologist Joel Weinstock of Tufts University, who studies worms as a possible treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. "We're no longer being challenged the way Mother Nature intended. This could be one reason why people are getting more immune-mediated diseases today..."
"...Loke is already conducting a clinical trial of whipworms for people with ulcerative colitis. Other worm trials involve multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease and even autism, some cases of which may be triggered by immune malfunction..."
"...If the clinical trials succeed, worms could become a standard autoimmune disease treatment..."
"...Helminths have been neglected," said Weinstock. "When you look at all the discoveries made from plants, bacteria and fungi, helminths have definitely been overlooked. They have such amazing powers, and they've barely been studied."
I think there is a deeper message here...that it is all to easy in our modern, "hygienic" world to assume that these kinds of organisms offer no benefit, and we are better off without them....when in fact, we have evolved with many of these organisms occupying a beneficial "niche" in our systems that may be meeting a mutual need that we are unaware of...
And yes, in fact, leeches and maggots still have important uses in modern medicine....
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Parasitic creatures have no place inside a human. They cause torture, and can cause even death. Nothing healthy about them. Nothing good to be gained by their eating away from the inside out and, in some cases, spewing out their toxins. -
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
DITTO to what Keebler is saying. The adult roundworms live in the small intestine where they lay 200,000 eggs a day and migrate to the heart, lungs and other organs.
Parasites are very dangerous and life threatening, especially to someone with an compromised immune system. They also carry mercury and bacteria in their coats.
Gael
Posted by CD57 (Member # 11749) on :
I wondered about this, because a doc just told me and I have known, that we have some symbiotic parasites in our guts....if we kill off other stuff wouldn't we kill them too?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Signals probably got crossed.
Parasitic worms (and other forms of parasites) are NEVER symbiotic when they eat us.
Parasites EAT us, some slowly so that their host can survive to be their food source, some fast (depending upon the type) that's the definition, their "job" and their "purpose" so to speak.
They attach and hold on to eat our tissue &/or suck out our blood nutrients for their survival. We become their food. THAT is NOT our job, but such a situation can keep us from being able to work or function, big time. Long time.
Some parasites can move to various organs, including the heart, liver, lungs, and even the brain and eyes. They lay hundreds and thousands of eggs that will perpetuate this cycle as long as they are allowed to have a warm body as their meal ticket.
Some emit toxic waste, and that can destroy the liver / kidneys / brain / etc.
Entirely different, though:
There ARE some good kinds of bacteria in our gut, however. And, yes, those can be killed off by antibiotics. That's why PROBIOTICS - and probiotic and prebiotic rich foods - are so vital, always. to replenish the balance in the gut.
And some good kinds of yeast /fungi, too. And anti-candida measures can destroy those, too. So replenishing all that matters, too. MISO, Brewer's Yeast help. -
Posted by Phoiph (Member # 41238) on :
Of course there are many harmful parasites in the world that necessitate treatment...but we all carry parasites...they are a part of life, and a well functioning immune system usually keeps the less harmful ones in check.
I find it of interest that scientists are discovering that in some ways their eradication in modern times may also contribute to unexpected health issues, and some of their effects may actually be beneficial to our immune systems and/or prevent or autoimmune diseases as well:
"...The positive effects of parasitic worms are theorized to be a result of millions of years of evolution, when humans and human ancestors would have been constantly inhabited by parasitic worms.[9] In the academic journal EMBO Reports, Dr. Rook says that such helminths 'are all either things that really do us no harm, or things where the immune system is forced to give in and avoid a fight because it's just a waste of time.[14]' In the scientific journal Immunology, Rook states that, because parasitic worms were almost always present, the human immune system developed a way to treat them that didn't cause tissue damage.[9] The immune system extends this response to its treatments of self-antigens, softening reactions against allergens, the body,[9] and digestive microorganisms.[15] As the worms developed ways of triggering a beneficial immune response, humans came to rely on parasitic interaction to help regulate their immune systems.[9] As developed countries advanced in technology, medicine, and sanitation, parasitic worms were mostly eradicated in those countries, according to Dr. Weinstock in the medical journal GUT.[16] Because these events took place very recently on the evolutionary timeline and humans have progressed much faster technologically than genetically, the human immune system has not yet adapted to the absence of internal worms.[9] This theory attempts to explain the rapid increase in allergies and asthma in the last century in the developed world, as well as the relative absence of autoimmune diseases in the developing world, where parasites are more common..."
Obviously, treating for parasites is very helpful (and even life saving) for certain people/conditions, but with so many people with Lyme who are currently self-treating for parasites with multiple toxic drugs, I have to wonder if: (1) they can be sure they truly have the pathological populations of parasites they are attempting to treat, (2) the effects of the (toxic) drugs are not more harmful than the parasites themselves, and (3) with an already compromised immune system, how do they plan to prevent re-infection upon cessation of treatment (considering parasites are ubiquitous)?
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
If you check out the PARASITE WARRIORS SUPPORT THREAD and the testamonies about what folks are "seeing" exit when using either pharma antiparasitics or antiparasitic herbs and salt/c, you will hear first hand how they know for sure that they have/had these invaders and how they were keeping them chronically ill.
Some are alternating between the pharma drugs and herbs. Getting rid of these parasites got rid of my SEVERE asthma that I had for over 40yrs.
It was discovered by Burgdorfer that when he dissected the ticks, he found an abundance of Filarial Worms. This is what came out of me and many others when they went after the parasites. www.lymephotos.com.
True you have to stay on maintenance of antiparasitics for life, because if just one egg is left, the cycle would start all over again. Ivermectin is being used in third world countries to get rid of filariasis in a large portion of the population that are infected.
Gael
Posted by girl (Member # 18022) on :
ewh! Gael ~ I may need some help in parasite eradication. may I contact you?
Posted by Phoiph (Member # 41238) on :
Gael...
I would hope that you wouldn't have to stay on antiparasitics for life.
In my experience, once my immune system became functional again, parasites (and other infections) slowly became a non issue...
Posted by slayadragon (Member # 16153) on :
Maybe the reason that "helminth therapy" works is because the parasites sequester metals that otherwise would be floating around in the system, rather than because of the "hygiene hypothesis."
Posted by girl (Member # 18022) on :
I have heard that if you live with animals you will need to do a parasite cleanse every 6 months.
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